Journal box lid



Dec. 16, 1952 G. F. COUCH JOURNAL BOX LID Filed May 15, 1950 FIG. 2

Inventor: Glenn E Couch his Aflorney Patented Dec. 16, 1952 JOURNAL BOXLID Glenn F. Couch, Williamsville, N. Y., assignor to TheSymington-Gould Corporation, Depew, N. Y., a corporation of MarylandApplication May 15, 1950, Serial No. 162,034

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a journal box lid for use in railway trucksand more particularly to an articulated type thereof.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved articulatedjournal box lid of a commonly termed two piece type and arranged forcontrolled universal movement between the two pieces.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved journalbox lid wherein a permissible universal movement is arranged between ahood and cover with a loose interlock therebetween to limit theuniversal movement.

These and many other objects of the invention will become apparent fromthe succeeding description of an exemplified form of the invention andwhich is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the journal box lid of thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 22 of Figure1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawing wherein like reference charactersindicate like parts, the numeral I is employed to designate, in asomewhat general manner, a journal box lid characteristic of the presentinvention. The journal box lid is designed and intended to form apositive and removable barrier or seal at and over an access opening 2of a forward extremity of a journal box shown partially anddiagrammatically only in Figure 2 of the drawing and designated by thereference numeral 3. The journal box lid is hingedly or pivotallyconnected to a hinge lug 4 of the journal box through the medium of ahinge pin or pintle 5 (see Figure 2 only of the drawing). No elaboratedisplay or description of the hinge lug and hinge pin will be hereincontained because such structures are common and positive barrier andthereby prevent not only the ingress of foreign particles or substanceto the interior of the journal box but also prevent the egress ofjournal lubricant contained within the journal box. For substantiallythe full periphery of the plate, it is provided with a guard flange 1which is normal to the cover proper and projects toward the journal boxin overlapping but spaced relation therewith so as to function as adeflector and guard the juncture of the cover and journal box againstforeign substance which may be directed thereto in service. Also,desirably, the cover is provided with a continuous drip flange 8 whichinstands normal to the cover toward the interior of the journal box andfunctions as a means whereby, oil or other lubricant impinged againstthe inside surface of the lid in service may be redirected or conveyedto the interior of the journal box and not to the juncture between thecover and journal box. This drip flange, as will be noted, is spacedtoward the center of the cover from the peripherial flange and extendsinwardly of the journal box within the access opening thereof.

The plate or cover is further provided with a spherically formedindentation or depression 9 which is, in actual practice, madepreferably semi-spherical in configuration and is positionedsubstantially centrally of the plate. The indentation or depression isso arranged that it opens or faces what may be considered outward of theplate and therefore the plate is bulged as at H], inwardly of thejournal box so as to leave the outer face free for the accommodation ofother structure hereinafter considered in detail.

The cover has, outstanding perpendicularly therefrom or normalthereto,'a connecting flange I I semi-circular in conformation whenconsidering the view of Figure 1 particularly. This connecting flangefollows the contour of the rim or periphery of the depression and, moreparticularly, what may be considered the lower half portion of theindentation rim so that while it is joined integrally with the cover itwill let the up per part of the depression substantially free for theintroduction of another component into the depression. Formed integrallywith the edge of the connecting flange removed in outward spacedrelation from the cover proper, is a spherically arranged protuberanceor ball effect number [2 which is desirably of semi-spherical form andis what may be considered as being in axial alignment with theindentation. This protuberance extends from the connecting flangeinwardly of the cover as a reentrant member toward the indentation. Aswill be noted, the protuberance presents a, substantially sphericallydisposed surface l3 spaced an appreciable distance from and facing thelid bulged portion I9. In order to reinforce the protuberance andsemi-circular flange against stresses to which they will be subjected inservice, there is provided a pair of preferably parallel, stiffeningflanges l4 arranged, at what may be considered, tangential to theprotuberance as viewed particularly in Figure 1 of the drawing. Thesestiffening flanges are in tegral with the protuberance, the connectingflange and the cover to render the entire combination an integral,rugged and well protected structure.

Functioning as the sole connecting link between the cover and journalbox is a hood I5 having upper or horizontally spaced and directed hingeears I6 which accommodate the hinge pin. The hood, also preferably madeof malleable iron because of its characteristics comprises a main body II which is positioned, in the main, outwardly of or away from the coverin spaced relation thereto. What may be considered as the main body oran intermediate part of the hood is formed with outwardly bulged,cylindrically formed recesses 18. These recesses are horizontally spacedso as to be in substantially balanced position when considering the hoodin its vertical and horizontal aspects; for which see Figure Iparticularly. Since the purpose of the cover is to maintain it, when inclosed position, in tight engagement with the journal box, someyieldable or force imparting means must be incorporated in the journalbox lid to render its operation positive and complete. Toward thefulfillment of this purpose, there is provided a flexible or springmeans I9 formed with double coils 2i) spaced horizontally from oneanother and nested or bedded in the cylindrically formed recesses tomaintain them in a predetermined position and relationship. The adjacentends of the coils are connected by an intermediate looped leg 2| whichextends toward the top of the hood where it is provided with a roller 22bearing, normally or when in operable position, against the hinge lug tomaintain the coils of the spring means stressed as well as assist inholding the lid in closed position and hold the lid in open osition. Theremote ends of the coils terminate in downwardly extending spring legs23 which are horizontally spaced and extend in a direction away from theintermediate looped leg. These spring legs 23 are nested in suitableelongated recesses 23a formed in the cover on each side of thedepression in parallel relation and as will be noted, the springleg-elongated recess relationships maintain these spring legs in adefinite position in balanced relation on each side of the depression.This spring disposition is such that when the lid is in open positionthe cover will not rattle or chatter because the spring legs 23 are indirect bearing relation with the cover and do not press the coveragainst the journal box through some other intermediate member.

The bottom extremity of the hood is formed, centrally thereofintermediate the lateral or side edge, as a hollow, ball-like shaped orspherically formed dependant or extremity 24. Actually, in practice,this extremity of the hood is semispherical in shape and is of suchdepth as to be easily threaded or inserted into the depression betweenthe protuberance and bulged portion of the plate. The hood lowerextremity is provided with a curved or spherically formed, outwardlyfacing surface 25 which neatly engages with the surface l3 so as topresent an appreciable hearing area between the hood and cover. Thesemating, spherically disposed surfaces therefore afiord a universal orarticulate movement between the hood and cover so that the cover will befree to adjust itself relative to the hood and journal box and becomefully seated against the journal box when in closed position. Also, itwill be noted that the hood, spring and cover arrangement is such thatthe lower extremity of the hood is constantly being urged away from thecover and in bearing relation with the protuberance to maintain thisinterlock between the hood and cover.

While, as pointed out, it is highly desirable to incorporate structurein a journal box lid to llow a universal movement between the hood andcover, it is also desirable to provide for limitations of such movement.Prompted by this last mentioned thought the cover protuberance has,instanding of the plate therefrom, a pin means, shank or shaft 26 formedintegrally with the protuberance and centrally thereof. The shaft is inaxial alignment with what may be considered a center of rotation 21 ofthe cover or more specifically it is disposed normal or perpendicular tothe cover or plate to project for a given distance into the coverindentation. It is to be noted that suflicient distance is providedbetween the inner free extremity of the pin means and cover bulgedportion to permit or allow a free and full introduction of the hoodsemi-spherical extremity into the cover depression. For theaccommodation of the pin means the hood lower extremity is provided withan opening or orifice 28 which is centrally disposed and looselyreceived by the pin means. The clearance or free space about the pinmeans is determinative of the permissible universal movement of thecover relative to the hood. Upon an opening movement of the journal boxlid such as a clockwise movement of the journal box lid about the pintle5 when considering the showing of Figure 2, the cover will rotate aboutthe protuberance until the pin means comes into contact with the portionof the hood lower extremity which defines the orifice 28 and at thistime a continued clockwise rotation of the cover will result in thecover picking up the hood and then both the hood and cover will rotateas a unit about the pintle 5 allowing the entire journal box lid to berotated to open position.

From the above it will be noted that various changes and alterations inthe illustrated and described construction will become apparent to thoseskilled in this art without a departure from the spirit of the inventionor scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a journal box lid, the combination of, a hood, a cover, adepression formed in an outer face of said cover, a circular flangeoutstanding from said cover and terminating in a spherically shapedprotuberance spaced outwardly from said depression, a spherically shapedlower extremity on said hood interposed between said depression andprotuberance, said protuberance nesting neatly in said hood lowerextremity for affording a universal movement between said hood andcover, and a shank formed integrally with said protuberance centrallythereof and projecting toward and terminating short of said cover saidshank extending through an opening in said hood lower extremity forlimiting said universal movement between said hood and cover.

2. In a journal box lid, the combination of, a hood, a cover, aspherically formed depression in said cover disposed substantiallycentrally thereof and opening outwardly thereof, a circular flangedefining a lower portion of said depression and disposed normal to saidcover, a spherically shaped member formed integrally with said flangeand positioned in spaced relation with said depression in axialalignment therewith, a hollow spherically shaped extremity formed onsaid hood and positioned between said member and depression, said hoodextremity being in bearing relation with said member in spaced relationwith said cover to afiford a universal movement between said hood andcover, and pin means formed integral with said member projectinginwardly of said depression normal to and spaced from said cover, saidpin means projecting through an opening in said hood extremity forlimiting said universal movement between said hood and cover.

3. In a journal box lid, the combination of, a hood, a cover, asemi-spherical depression in said cover substantially centrally thereofand facing outward thereof, a semi-circular flange defining a portion ofa periphery of said depression and outstanding from said cover normalthereto, a semi-spherical member supported solely by said flange inoutward spaced relation to said depression, spaced flanges tangential tosaid member and joined to said member, semi-circular flange and cover, asemi-spherical extremity formed on said hood and positioned between saidmember and cover; said hood extremity neatly accommodating and bearingagainst said member, and pin means normal to and terminating short ofsaid cover and projecting into said depression from said member; saidpin means extending loosely through an aligned opening in said hoodextremity to limit a universal movement between said hood and cover.

4. In a journal box lid the combination of a hood, a cover, asemi-circular flange disposed substantially centrally of and outstandingfrom said cover, a member supported solely by said flange and having aspherically shaped surface confronting said cover, pin means secured toand projecting from said member toward and substantially normal to saidcover, said pin means and member being spaced from said cover, and aspherically shaped extremity formed on said hood and insertible betweensaid pin means and cover, said hood extremity neatly accommodating andbearing against said member for universal movement between said hood andcover, and said extremity having an opening loosely receiving said inmeans for limiting said universal movement.

GLENN F. COUCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,136,937 Christianson Apr. 27,1915 2,206,498 Couch July 2, 1940 2,445,984 Weber July 27, 1948

